Marcus Hodge is known for his portraits, horses and landscapes. His work is united by his classical painterly style with a contemporary twist, which owes much to a rigorous five years of training in the old master techniques in Spain.

He attended the Escuela Libre del Mediterraneo in Palma, one of only two remaining European schools where the traditional methods were still taught. This entailed a whole year spent just drawing proportion lines and a second practising light and dark techniques in the Claroscuro class. Only then was he finally allowed to move into a restricted 4 colour palette and eventually into full portrait mode. After five years of intensive study, Marcus became only the 3rd person in the school’s 25 year history to be invited to remain as a tutor.

On returning to Britain in 1996, Marcus’ work was exhibited three times by the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. For the past 15 years his portraits have been represented exclusively by Fine Art Commissions of Bury Street in London and he has held five solo shows in their galleries in Cork Street and Bury Street.

Recent commissions include a large pair of paintings for the Kings Troop RHA to commemorate their 60th Anniversary Parade and a stalking scene at Balmoral for the Scots Guards, to record their summer posting in 2007 as the Royal Guard. Among his current projects are painting portraits of the Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of Bournemouth University. Marcus is also one of the first artists to be commissioned by the Jockey Club.

In 2010 Marcus embarked on his most ambitious picture to date. He was commissioned by the 3rd Rifles to paint a scene of Sangin market in Afghanistan, to mark the end of their 6 month tour. After completing a 4 day military training, he spent 10 days with 3 Rifles in Sangin going out on foot patrol with them into the bazaar. The painting took a further 6 months to complete on his return to the UK and includes over 20 figures on a canvas and is 2.5 metres long and 1.5 metres wide. The image was then made into a Limited Edition of signed prints and is available through Rifles Direct, with all profits going to the Rifles’ chosen military charities.

Marcus has been married to Alix since 1992 and they live with their two children in a village just outside Oxford.

Selected Commissions
3rd Rifles, A Portrait of Sangin
King’s Troop, RHA, 60th Anniversary Parade
The Scots Guards
Lady Digby For Bournemouth University
Colonel Edward Bolitho
Alkaased, Winning the Japan Cup
Mr and Mrs Anthony Murray

The Children of:
Mr and Mrs Alexis Moores
The Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe
Lord and Lady Moynihan
Mr and Mrs Philip Fleming

Solo exhibitions
2001 FAC, Cork Street
2002 FAC, Cork Street
2004 FAC, Walton Street
2011 FAC, Bury Street

Group Shows
2009 FAC, Cork Street
2010 FAC, Bury Street
2011 FAC, Art London
Galleria Max Deia
Austin Galleries, Texas, USA
Art London
Cadogan Contemporary
Arndean Gallery, Cork Street